Automated net-shape preforming of CFRP Frames in the project Maaximus

Abstract

High-performance composite structures are increasingly used in today airframes due to the excellent weight-specific mechanical performance. The announced ramp-up of 70 and more aircrafts per month for next-generation aircrafts demands the next step in composite manufacturing in order to produce parts with excellent geometrical accuracy in high-rate processes. Within the European FP7 project MAAXIMUS a side shell structure of a fuselage was chosen as demonstrator. As part of the MAAXIMUS fuselage panel, two different door-surrounding frames have been manufactured by an automated preforming cell which is part of a fully automated Textile Preforming and Resin-Transfer-Molding (RTM) production line.